My bike was stolen, any suggestions?

My Raleigh M40 was stolen January 13th or 14th in Newark, Delaware. It was registered and I reported it to the police, but I don't expect them to find it. I've been looking on Craigslist, etc. with no luck and my friend who works at a bike shop recommended this site. Anyone have any suggestions or is it not worth looking any more?

If your neighborhood has flea markets, I'd go to those. How much is your time worth to you? How much did you pay for the bike? How much does the bike mean to you? I'd ask these questions before spending time and effort to find the bike. It maybe better to just call it a lost and get another bike and move on. How was it stolen?

Originally Posted by avner

I loled. Twice. Then I cried. Then I rubbed one out and cried again, but thanks for sharing.

I'm on winter break for another week, so I have all the time in the world (for the next week). The bike was a christmas present 6 years ago and it then cost about $450, I have put a lot of work and money into the bike so it is worth a good bit to me. I live near a college campus and I rode it to visit my friend and left it locked outside her dorm/apartment. That was wednesday the 12th, it snowed that night so I got a ride home in the morning, Friday the 14th I went to get the bike and all that was left was the lock, cut, laying on the ground. It was a pretty decent masterlock lock, too.

My suggestion would be to keep looking on Craigslist and ebay, maybe set up a google alert for that model.

However, keep in mind that if someone has the right tools to cut a lock, they're probably smart enough not to post the bike up on craigslist right away. Did you go to Wooden Wheels? If not I'd go there and ask them to keep an eye out for it.

Hamish, yes I do go to UD, do you? This is what the bike looks like, if you see it. I've lived in Newark my whole life and have never seen the same model, let alone in that color. I did go to wooden wheels, they told me I could bring in a flyer that they'd put up in the back. That was where I got the bike from originally. Thanks for the help!
Edit: Also, the bike was locked up outside the towers, in case you were wondering.

I'm sorry. I am one who believes in capital punishment for thieves. There is no excuse for stealing and taking anything that belongs to another person.

I once retrieved a good mountain bike that had been stolen out of the back of my Chevy Astro Van. I cruised the local high schools and found it REPAINTED locked in bike rack. I called the cops and they verified the serial number. They staked it out for several hours before giving up and cutting the lock to give it back to me.

My advice: forget about it. Yes, having a bicycle stolen is a tragedy (and I've had two stolen, so I know), but I can tell you from experience that the police won't bother investigating the matter, and the thieves have probably taken it interstate to sell it off at some pawn shop along with everything else they've stolen from your town. You're better off looking for a replacement now, and making sure you get a decent lock. Another idea I've used recently is to remove the skewer from the front wheel when I leave the bike somewhere. If anybody tries to ride off with it, they're in for a short and painful ride.

I am so sorry to hear that. in fact you have complaint to police as well so i think they should help you out with this. i hope you get back soon. and also claim an insurance on the bike if not do it soon.

Your bike was stolen, and local law enforcement isn't concerned. Neither are most of the people in these forums. Stop and think about that...

As much as we can love our special bikes and become attached to them, it appears that they're actually just disposable commodities. Maybe our society has degraded itself so low, that the only common-sense response would be to go out and steal whatever replacement suits your fancy, from someone else. That seems to be the message these days.

Even our president is preaching 'redistribution of wealth', taking from those who earn and giving to those who don't...

Hamish, yes I do go to UD, do you? This is what the bike looks like, if you see it. I've lived in Newark my whole life and have never seen the same model, let alone in that color. I did go to wooden wheels, they told me I could bring in a flyer that they'd put up in the back. That was where I got the bike from originally. Thanks for the help!
Edit: Also, the bike was locked up outside the towers, in case you were wondering.

I don't go to UD, I got to IUP in western PA. My home is in Newark though, in that neighborhood near the painted bridge at the end of Cleveland.

My mom does teach there... Honestly I'd suggest what everyone else said. Forget about it and start saving for a new bike. With that many students in the area, you're not likely to see it again any time soon. Also I wouldn't be surprised if your bike was stolen by a high school student (I went to Newark High, that place is FULL of criminals), in which case it has probably been rattle-canned and is being ridden around in some suburban neighborhood you will never see.